Hair and beard clipper



Aug. 11, 1942,

' w. F. FEYRE R HA'IR AND BEARD CLIPPER '7 Filed Oct. is, 1938 INVENTOR'erable commercial success.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED v STATE s PATENT OFFICE HAIR AND BEARDCLIPPER. Wi lliam Feyrer, Norwalh, Conn. I Application October 13,1937,-Serial- Nt. 158,693

,3: Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hair 7 andbeard clippers.

During recent years there has been a considerable development of hairand-beard cutting implements, and some of these have had a consid--However,-most of these prior developments depended uponoffset orsuperposed. shearing cutters and upon a shearing action. With suchcutting implements there is the danger of tilting the hairs, or beard,

1 or beard on the swath line is first partially cut by one movablecutter. This distribution of the cut breaks up or divides the-cuttingload and thereby makes possible the provision of a smaller andmorecompact prime mover than would be the case if the complete out weresimultaneously made.

and causing an adverse pulling action, especially a if there is even aslight extent of wear between r the cooperating shearing cutters.

- It is an important object of the present invention toprovide a hairand beard cutting implement, herein referred to as a hairand beardclipper, which will not have the disadvantage of ofiset or shearingcutters heretofore provided.

A feature resulting from the attainment of this object isthe provisionof cooperating cutters engaging or'nearly engaging each other on'an evenplane so that the hair or beard is nipped and not sheared. In the claimsand parts of the detailed description hereinafter the terms nip, nippedand nipping will be-used to distinguish l i'further and very importantobject of the present invention is to'provide a hair and beard clipperwhich will effectively cut hair or a beard very close to the skin, yeteffectively prevent the close skin from getting intothe path of thecooperating cutters. I

Features flowing fromtheattainmentcf this .object include the provisionof: cutting edges operable on a level with the surface of the skin, withno grillesor guards interposed between the cutting edges and the skin asare very often provided: interfitting prongs with cutting edgesalternately brought into operative engagement;

. movable cutters adapted'to serveas protectors to prevent theusers skinfrom being cut; interfitting sets of prongs having cutting edges, withthe advantageous structures wherein the opposed cooperating cutters areon an even plane as distinguished fromthe less advantageous shear orshearing structures wherein the cooperating cutters are offset orsuperposed relative to each other.

A further feature is the provision of a main cutter and a pair ofcooperating cutters which may be moved alternately relative to the maincutter. Complementing the last mentioned feature, the present inventionprovides driving mechanism for positively and accurately moving the pairof cooperating cutters relative to the main cutter, and in some forms,keeping one cooperating cutter in the operative position beforeretracting the same until the-other cooperating v cutter is moved fromthe inoperativeposition completely or substantially into the operativeposition.

' these objects, include the provision of a main cutter and a pair ofmovable cutters with interspersed cutting edges adapted to bealternately brought into operative engagement whereby erative position,and vice versa.

one set of prongs serving-ass. guard and'defining hair receivingopenings while the other set of prongs and cutting edges is advanced tothe op- A further and important feature of the present invention is theprovision of means for easily and effectively setting the main or fixedcutting edges relative to each other, initially for the best I resultson light and heavy beards, and to compensatefor wear whenever necessary.

In the drawing which illustrates the,present preferred embodiments ofthe invention:

Figure 1 is an end view of the hair and heard clipper.

Fig. 2 is an exploded and perspective view of the cutting head shown inFigure 1.

' Fig. 2A is a fragmentary view of a modified form ofcam layout. Fig.3jis a fragmentary bottom view of the cutters, showninFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4" is a sectional view, similar to the form shown in Figs. 1through 3, but with cutter setting mechanism, taken on line 4-4 of 5.

4A is a sectional view similar to Figs. 1 through 4, but shows thecutters in a shearing relation.

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, of the cutter head shown inFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end view similar to Fig. 1, show inga modified view of theinvention, including hair pivotally rather than rectilinearly movedcutters.

Fig. '1 is an exploded and perspective view of the cutting head shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is one view of the cutter driving mechanism.

Fig. 8A is a cam layout of shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 10, showing amodified cutter setting mech- 111115111.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the cutter setting mechanism shownin Fig. 9.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereofin detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction and arrangement the mechanism of parts shownin the accompanying drawing,

which is merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, sincethe invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseologyemployed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referringnow in detail to the drawing, that form of the invention shownin Figs. 1 through 3 comprises a handle l2 secured as by a threadedconnection l3 to a cutter head M which includes a main cutter I5 and apair of cooperating movable cutters l6 and I1.

The main cutter I5 is preferably made of one piece and is provided witha cutting edge 18 at the rear of which may be provided a channel i9, tofacilitate forming and sharpening the cutting edge, and moreparticularly to provide a clearance passage for out hair or heard.

The movable cutter l6 has a set of prongs 20 with slots 2| therebetween,generally curving toward the main cutter to provide a channel 22,complementing the channel i9 of the main cut- Similarly the othermovable cutter l1 includes a set of prongs 23 closely and slidablyfitting into the slots 2|, while intermediate slots 24 thereof likewiseaccommodate prongs 20 of the movable cutter IS. The prongs 20 and 23 areeach provided with cutting edges 25 and 25 on the same plane as andcooperable with the cutting edge I! of the main cutter. Now, it shouldbe particularly noted that this cooperation of the cutting edges on thesame plane effects a very advantageous nipping action, as distinguishedfrom the less advantageous shearing action which is generally 'used ondry shaving and like devices.

In this form of the invention the cooperating cutters l6 and I1 aremoved rectilinearly toward, and into, an operative position relative tothe main cutter. To make this travel possible the present inventionprovides a channel 26 between lugs 21 including a table 28 upon andbetween which the movable cutters l6 and I1 may be superposed, supportedand guided. Side sections 29 and 30 thereof are close fitting betweenthe lugs 21 to insure a straight line movement toward and from the maincutter l5. Adverse vertical movement of the movable cutters i6 and I1relative to the main cutter I5 is prevented by the provision of a plate3| overlying the pair of movable cutters I6 and I1 and secured to thelugs 21 as by screws 32.

A driving mechanism 33, for that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1through 5, includes a drive shaft 34 axially disposed in .the handle 12and connected to any well-known type of rime mover, with cams 35 and 35at th lower end thereof cooperating with elongated slot 31 and,v

ll in the movable cutters l6 and I1 respectively. The cams are offsetrelative to each other to alternately move the cutters l6 and I1 intooperative engagement with the main cutter l5.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2A, a modified form of driving mechanism 39is provided to allow one movable cutter to remain in close operativerelation with the main cutter 15 until the other movable cutter is in orclose to operative relation thereto before retraction. To this endmodified cams 35' and 36, and modified slots 31' and 3B of greater widththan the cams are provided so that the high point of each camsuccessively after moving its cutter to the main cutter moves arcuatelyapproximately degrees before pushing its associated cutter back to aninoperative position and away from the main cutter.

The prongs 20 and 23 successively after they reach the operativeposition serve as protectors to prevent skin from getting into the pathof the then working cutting edges, and at the same time define smallhair or heard receiving apertures. Also, by alternately moving first oneand then the other set of cutting edges 25 and 25' into operative orcutting engagement with the main cutter I5 the cutting load is halved sothat there is no bad pull as would occur if the cutting action-tookplace completely across the line of swath at one time. However, it doescut completely across the line of swath so that in a straight passage ofthe clipper there will be no series of cut and uncut tracks as occurswith those dry shavers or clippers in which grilles or guards areprovided longitudinally of the line of travel, with the cutting actiontaking place only between such guards.

. That form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to theform shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, differing therefrom only in theprovision of a main or fixed setting mechanism 40 for: initialily havinga correct relationship between the cutting edges I 8, 25 and 25', whenthe device is first manufacturedg'insuring a close relationship betweenthe edges without actually having the same strike against each otheradversely; effecting a proper setting for nipping light, heavy, soft,wiry, beards or the like; and compensating for wear or resharpening.

This setting mechanism 40 merely icludes a slide connection 4| betweenthe head 42 and main cutter l5a, so that the latter may be moved towardand from the movable cutters l5 and I1. To effect and maintain suchpositioning cams 43 on a rod 44 adapted to enter apertures 45 areprovided. The rod and cams may be turned by a small knob 46 and may beheld in desired position by. a screw 41.

Fig. 4A discloses a slightly modified form of the invention, similar tothat shown in Figs. 1 through 5, inclusive, differing therefrom primamyin having prongs 20a and 23a on movable cutters lGa and l1a above thecutting edge "a on a main cutter I51) and over-riding the latter toefiect a shearing rather than a nipping action. With this form of theinvention the prongs 20a and 23a define hair receiving apertures, breakthe swath line, and divide or break the cutting load. However, it isbelieved that the shearing action is much less desirable than thenipping action of the other forms of the invention.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 8A show a further modified form of the invention,differing from the form in Figs. 1 through 5, inclusive, primarilyin theprovisionflof movable cutters 50 and it having 'apivoted'mountin'g l2and a different driving mechanism 53. The pivoted mounting includes apivot rod 54 on the back of a head no: a main cutter 56. The rod'issupported by lugs 51 which ternately move the latter toward and fromthemain cutter 55. The row-bottom-cam slot 59, see Fig. 8A, is providedwith ashort liftinglobe 60 and a long lowering slot 59 whereby themovable cutters are successively retracted only while the mating movablecutter is in the operative station and is again moved into the operativestation before the cutter in the operative position is retracted. Thus,either the cutter 50 oril is always.

in the operative position, servingas a guard and cutting edges of eachof said pair of'cooperating cutters alternately relative to the longstraightcutting edge. 7

6. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of amain cutter; a firstcooperating cutter;

a second cooperating cutter, separately movable relative to the firstcooperating cutter; and means for alternately moving said first andsecond cooperatingcutters arcuafely relative to said maincutter. V I

7. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; acontinuous cuttingedge on said main cutter, a pair of cooperatingcutters; and means for alternately moving each of permitting the workingcutting edges of the other 7 cutter to safely nip the hair or beardlevel with the skin.

Figs. 9 and 10 are similar to Figs. 4 and 5 for they disclose a settingmechanism. 65 comprising a slide section 65 with flanged screws 61 attwo sides entering suitable threaded holes 68. Flanges 69 on the screwsenter recesses I0 to move the main cutter H relative to the head 12toward and away from the movable cutters l6 and I! to obtain the mosteffective cutting'relation. Either of the setting mechanisms 40 or 65may be used with that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. 7

Other variations and modifications .may be made within the scope of thisinvention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; onlyone main nipping edge on ,the main cutter; a pair of relatively movablecooperating nipping cutters; means: for supporting said pair ofcooperating cutters for movement relative'to each other; and means formoving each of said pair of cooperating nippin cutters alternately andindependently of each other toward and from abutment with the one mainmembers toward said main cutter.

2. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a,cooperating cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs; a secondcooperating cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs slidable betweenthe cutting prongs oi. the first cooperating cutter member; and meansfor moving the prongs of said cooperating cutters alternately towardsaidmain cutter.

3. In a hair and heard clipper the combination a pair ofcuttersrectilinearly relative to. and into operative conditionwithrespect to, the continuous cutting edge on said main cutter. g

8. In a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter; a pairof cooperating cutters-having operative and inoperative positions; meansfor alternately moving said pair of cooperating cutters toward and fromthe main cutter and for alternately maintaining one of said cooperatingcutters at the operative position while moving the other cooperatingcutter to the inoperative position; and means for effecting a main fixedsetting between said main cutter and said cooperating cutters. V I

'9. In a shaving'and hair cutting'implement the combination of one maincutter; a pair of separately movable cooperating cutters; means forsupporting said pair of cooperating cutters for movement whollyindependent of each other back and forth relative to s'aidone maincutter; and means for effecting alternating relative .movement betweensaid one main cutter and said separately movable cooperating cutters.

10. In a hair. and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; apair of cooperating cutof a head having a-channel; a main cutter on asaid head; a ,pair of separate inter-fitting and cooperating cutterssupported in said channel; and means for moving each of said pair ofcooperating cutters separately in said channel alternately towardsaid-main cutten.

4. In a hair and beard clipperthe combination of a head; a main cutteron said head; a cooperating member having alternate recesses andfingers; a second cooperating member having alternate recesses, andfingers slidable in recesses of the other cooperating cutter member; and

means for alternately moving said cooperating members toward said maincutter.

5. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a longstraight cutting edge on 7 said main cutter; a pair of cooperatingcutters,

each having a plurality of cutting edges; and means for alternatelymoving the plurality of ters: prongs on said pair of cooperating.cutters; and driving means for moving some of said cut-. ters relativelyto each other into an operative and inoperative position and foralternately causing the prongsof one cutter to serve as a protectorwhile the other cutter is moved into an operative cutting condition, andvice versa.

11. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; a pairof cooperating mov- -able cutters, having operative and inoperativepositions; prongs on each of said cooperating cutters; cutting edges. onsaid prongs; and driving means for moving. said movable cuttersalternately into operative engagement with said main cutter, and foralternately maintaining prongs of one cutter in close proximity to themain cutter to serve as a protector while the prongs and cutting edgesof the other movable cutter pass from a retracted inoperative positionto an advanced and operative position. i v

12. Ina hair and beard clipper the combination ofa'main cutter; a pairof movable and cooperating cuttera: movable toward and into a cuttingcondition relative to the main cutter, having operative and inoperativepositions; cutting edges on said cooperating cutters; prongs on each ofsaid movable cooperating cutters, forming protectors defining hairreceiving apertures and serving to prevent passage of a person's hairbearing skin intoithe path or the cooperating cutting edges; and meansfor maintaining the .pro'ngs .of one cooperatingcutter in closeassociation with the main cutter while moving the other cooperatingcutter and cutting edges there-V 13. In a hair and beard clipper thecombination of a plurality of cooperating cutters defining a swathline;prongs with nipping, edges v 21. In a hair andbea'rd clipper thecombination oi'a head; a pair of cooperating cutters; a

on at least one of said cutters; meanssupporting said cooperatingcutters in nipping relation to each other; means for guarding skin iromsaid -nipping edges while at least one of the cutters moves fromoperative tgLnoperative position and back into operative position; andmeans for etfecting relative movement between the cutters atsubstantially a right angle to the swathline.

- 14. In a hair and beard clipper thecombination of a cutter head havinga channel; walls for said channel; a main cutter; a pair of movablecutters, located and guided relative tosaid main cutter by the walls ofsaid channel; a pivotal support for said movable cutters; and meansimparting relative movement to said cutters.

main cutting edge onsaid head, common to said pairof cooperating cuttersand at a right angle to the normal path or the clipper; means forsupporting said pair of cooperating cutters for separate movement towardand from the main cutting edge and substantially along the path or theclipper; and driving means for alternately operating, said pair ofcooperating cutters in opposite directions relative to each other andto- I ward the main cutting edge.

15. In a hair and heard clipper the c'ombination of a cutter head havingonly one channel; walls for said channel; a main cutter; a pair ofseparately movable cutters located and guided relative to said maincutter by the walls of said one channel; and a cam and slot drivingmeans for efiecting relative movement between the movable cutters andthe main cutter.

16. In ahair and beard clipper the combina- "22. In a hair and beardclipper, the combination of a head; a wide cutting edge on said head;

a first set of cooperating cutters; a second set of cooperating cutters;means for interfitting said two sets or cutters, one within the other;and driving means for alternately moving said first set of cooperatingcutters into operative engagetion of a. cutter head having a channel;walls.

for said channel; a main cutter; a pair .of movable cutters located andguided relative to said main cutter by the walls of said channel, eachhaving an elongated slot; and a camming member entering the elongatedslots for driving said pair of movable cutters .altemately to and awayfrom the main cutter. 2

1'7. In a hair and beard cl pervthe combination of a cutter head havinga channel; a main cutter; a pair of separatelyand independently movablecutters; interdigutating means on said pairotmpvable cutters; means forguiding said separately and independently movable cutters relative tothe main cutter; .and drivingmeans for-altemately moving .saidseparately and independently movable cutters into operative conditionseparately andindependently relative to the main cutter.

18. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a cutter head havinga channel; a main cutter; v a pair of movable cutters; means for guidingsaid movable cutters relative to the main cutter; and means foralternately moving said movable cutters into operative conditionrelative to the main cutter and for imparting an intermittent dwell tosaid movable-cutters alternately in the operative position.

19. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a cutter head; a maincutter; a continuous cutting edge on said main cutter; a pair of movablecutters; sets of interfitting prongs on each of said movable cuttersdefining hair receiving apertures; cutting edges on each of said sets ofprongs; and means for altemately moving one set of prongs intoanoperative condition relative to the main cutter whileretracting theother set of prongs to form small hair and beard receiving openings. v20. In a hairand beard clipper the combination of a main cutter; asingle'wide andsub for oscillating said movable cutters altemately toand from, said single cutting edge.

ment with the wide cutting edge and concurrently moving the second setof cooperating cutters away from the wide cutting edge and vice versa,for alternately operating said first and second sets of cooperatingcutters in opposite directions between each other and toward the maincutting edge. a

23.- Ina hair and beard clipper the combination of a head; a pair ofcooperating nipping cutters; onlyv one main nipping cutter on said head,common to said pair of cooperating nipping cutters and at a right angleto the normal path of the clipper; means for supporting each of saidpair of cooperating nipping cutters, for relativelyindependent movementtoward and from abutment with said main nipping cutter; and drivingmeans for alternately moving said cooperating cutters relative to eachother and toward the main nipping cutter. 24. In a hair and beardclipper the combination of ,a head; a first set of spaced apart nippingcutters; a second set of spaced apart nipping cutters, interfitting withthe first set; a wide main nipping cutter on said head common to saidfirst and second sets of spaced apart nipping cutters, and at a rightangle to the normal path of the. clipper; and means for alternatelymoving said first and second sets of nipping cuttionof a head having onechannel; a main cutter on' said head; one set of cooperating cutters;

a second set of cooperating cutters lnterfltting with the first set;means in said one channel for supporting both sets of interfittingcutters; and driving means for moving each of said interfitting sets' orcooperating cutters between each other alternately toward and from themain cutter.

27. In a hair and beard clipper the combination or a head; a wide maincutter on said head; a first set'of cooperating cutting fingers withrecesses therebetween; means for concurrently moving said set offingers; a second set of cooperating cutting fingers movable within therecesses between the first set of cutting fingers; means forconcurrently moving said second set of cutting fingers; and drivingmeans 'foralter- V nately moving said first and second sets of cuttingfingers between each other toward and from the wide main cutter. 3

28. In a hair and beard clipperrthe combination of a head; a wide mainnipping edge on said head; a first set of cooperating nipping fingerswith recesses therebetween; means for concurrently moving said set offingers; a second set of cooperating nipping fingers'movable within therecesses between thefirst set of nipping finnation of amain cutter; aplurality of cooperating cutters, interspersed and-movable relative toeach other and also to operative and inoperative position relative tothe main cutter; and driving means for alternately moving certain ofsaid movable cutters into operative engagement with gers; means forconcurrently moving said sec- 0nd set of nipping fingers; and drivingmeans for alternately moving said first andsecond sets of nippingfingers between each other toward and from the wide main nipping edge.

29. In a hair and beard clipper the combination of a head; a widenipping edge on the head; a first set of cooperating nipping edges; asecond set of cooperating nipping edges; means for supporting said firstand second sets of nipping edges in interspersed relation with eachother; and means for alternately moving said the main cutterandmaintaining them in close proximity thereto while and until the other ofsaid movable cutters are moved from a retracted and inoperative positioninto an advanced and operative position. Y j

34. In a hair and heard clipper the combination of a head; a mainnipping cutter; a first set oi cooperating nipping cutters havingretracted and advanced positions with recesses therebetween; a secondset of cooperating nipping cutters interspersed and movable relative tothe first' set having retracted and advanced positions;'andmeans formoving said first and. second sets of nipping cutters between each otheralternately toward and. from the main nipping cutter, and

sets arcuately between each other andboth tocutters between each otherrectilinearly alternately toward and from the wide main nipping cutter.

31. In ahair and beard clipper, the combination of a head; a main cutteron the head; a pair of cooperating cutters; means to oscillate said pairor cutters back and forthrelative to each other and back and forthrelative to said main cutter; and means for setting the main maintainingeach of said sets.a1ternate1y in the advanced position while the otherof said sets of nipping cutte'rsis moved from the retracted to theadvanced position.

35..In a hair and beard clipper the eombination of a cutter head havinga channel; a'main nipping cutter; a set of cooperating nipping cutters;:a second set of cooperating nipping cutters;

cutter in various positions on the head and rela- V tive to thecooperating cutters.

32. In a hair and beard clipper the combinetion or a head; a 'mainnipping cutter on the head; a set of cooperating nipping cutters on' thehead; a second set oi cooperating nipping cutters; means for supportingsaid. sets of cooperating nipping cutters in interspersed and relativelyslidable reiationrmeans for driving said sets of'cooperating nippingcutters toward and from said main nipping cutters; .and means forsetting said main and cooperating nipping cutters in an operativerelation.

' 33. In a hair-and beard clipper the combia for supporting said pairoilcutters for movement 7 a ing means for relatively reciprocating each01" said pair of cooperating cutters altemately'and independently ofeach other back and forth into cutting relation toward and from the onewide and regular cutting edge on the main cutter.

means in said channel for'locating and guiding said'sets of nippingcutters relative to said main nipping cutter; apivotal support for saidmovv able cutters; and driving means, for pivotally moving thecooperating nipping cutters thereon'into' operative relation with themain nipping cutter. r a v 36.'-In a hair and beard clipper the.combination of a body; a main cutter; sets of interfitting movablecutters; means for supporting said sets of movable cutters for pivotalmovement between each other; and driving means for mov-- ing saidinterfltting cutters between each other alternately into operativerelation cutter; v

3'1. In 'a hair and beard clipper, the combination of a main cutter;only one wide and regular cutting edge'on the main cutter; a pair ofrelatively movable. cooperating cutters; means independently relative toeach othe raand driv- With the main 7

